Letter – Jonathan Hilton to Germaine Lavie – 22 Jun 1771

A Copy of a Letter sent Mr. Lavie				 22nd June 1771



Sir,

After putting my Lord Carlisle to Expence of repairing Stanhope smelt Mill I was in hopes that Simpson the Mill agent would have made as good produce from my Lord’s Ore as is made at other Smelt Mills & in order to know that I sent three Bings of Duty Ore to the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital smelt mill at Langly & the Produce of that three Bings was Ten Pieces of Lead 8 Stone each after making the above Tryal at the Commissioners smelt mill I sent Ten Bings three Horse of the same sort of Ore to Stanhope, telling Simpson the Produce of that was made at the Commissioners Smelt Mill but heard no more from Simpson till I was at Stanhope Yeasterday & found he had Smelted the above Ten Bings 3 Horse & from the first fire had only made 13 Pieces of Lead which according to the Produce made at the Commissioners Mill should have been 36 so you may easy see the Loss to his Lordship & indeed I have great suspecion there is not so good Produce made of Stanhopeburn Ore as might be owing I believe for want of Judgement but as I told you in a former Letter that I never had any directions about the Smelting &c could not act as I would have done nither should I have done what I have if I had not seen the great Damage my Lord 

Sustains & now refers the above to your consideration shall not say more till we all meet as you say you intend being in the Country this Summer which I wish may be soon, & as I have taken it upon me to disire Simpson to smelt no more Ore till he have orders your immediate Answer will be Necessary as any delay would Losse the season for Smelting & geting Lead to Markett.



P.S The above Ore was wast ore & raised at Old Greengill allys [alias] Greengill East End.

								I am &c Jona Hilton